Late Nite with Islamic Documentary (part Ali)

On this Ramadhan, me and B try new way to learn more about Islam. Since its my first Ramadhan to fast more than 12 hours (for 19 hours exactly) we tried to find light activity to fill out the time between iftar and sahoor (other than salah and read quran). In Germany, the iftar is on 10pm and we have to finish the sahoor around 3am, not enough time to have sleep. Then, we choosed to watch documentaries or movies about Islam. We bear in our mind to choose only the good quality docu so we can learn a lot without being force to sleep at midnight. So far we already watch two docus and two and a half movie (yeah we tried to watch Malcolm which is 2 and half hour long and it was long days for both of us, so we decide to sleep first before sahoor).

Well, indeed watching movies or docu that related to Islam is really fun and inspiring deeds. I always have this urge to write about what i watch, since when i watched the movie i was thinking a lot (but then, i dont have time until now). Btw i just realized, good movie indeed has to be watched at least twice. First watch to entertain ourselves by the acting, the cinematography and how great the story is. But then we need to rewatch it since we need time to rethink, to find the reliability of the stories, to see if its relevance with the real fact or not, to find a hidden message (you never know those illuminati try to illuminate us from movies right 😛 😛 :P). Eventho, i know its hard to find time to rewatch a movie before 5 years has passed, considering movie lists that we already had after watch one. (Which reminds me, i havent watched TFIOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

So, our first movie for this Ramadhan was Ali.

nope, its not Ali and his Pa. Its Will Smith and Muhammad Ali

Yeah, it is a classic. 2001 was the year for this movie to launch.Imdb rate? 6,7! But the reason to watch this movie is not because rating or whatsoever. It is simply because B is Ali’s biggest fan and he already tried to make watch it since two years ago! 😀 but i always tried to find reasonable excuse to not watch it. But i have no excuse this time. We want to watch enjoyable movie about Islam, and i know exactly how important Ali for American muslims. So, yeah i give up.

And man, i feel so stupid to keep refusing for watching this incredible movie. I dunno how could i have the idea that this movie will be boring. Ah i remember, i thought this movie is all about boxing. But then, i cried for all Ali’s jokes and his lowest-lif e moment. Well, just think about that now give me enough goosebumps.

Watching this movie lead me to understand the basic of Islam again. Ali is a convert muslim, a convert always could tell us more about this religion of peace other than born-muslim itself sometimes. Converts choose, converts struggles, converts learn more. But most of us (the muslim born) keep receiving for the knowledge and face less struggles (sometimes privilage to be born as a moslim make us forget to be grateful to Allah by learn more about Islam itself). Btw, B is a convert for 7 years ago and alhamdulillah there is no gap between us about knowledge of Islam, since i think i also just rediscover Islam with my concious as a teenager around 7 years ago.

It was in the 60’s when ‘Islam’ has not known for bombing the world, but it is known for nothing. I do really wondering how can Ali be a muslim and a world influencer at that era, when everything was still black and white. He is so proud being Ali rather than Casillias and the most important he told the world about that, he shout to the world for what he believes in, in the 60’s. I search for that kind of figure nowadays, and i dont find any. There are so many great muslim scholars and artist but i think none have ever shout as loud as Ali about Islam.

Other than how funny Will Smith potrayed Ali in this movie (in a very similiar way), another scene that i recalled from Ali the movie is about Ali’s quarrel with his first wife. Can you guess what is the quarrel about? it is about covering your body, women! It was on one of his match, when his wife presented there with up hair do and full make up plus bling bling tight dress. Ali win in that match, but he was not happy at all for what his wife look like. He simply compare himself to his wife (if he dressed up and colour his hair like white people), he truly just wants his wife to cover a little and being proud as black woman the way she is! With that scene, i remember that i’ve ever read somewhere about Ali gives advice to his daughter Fatima, to also cover herself. Oh ya, his second wife is baker hijaabi! (eventhough they split in the end for principles matter, but this second wife was there to accompany Ali for all his struggle after he refuse to join Vietnam War).

Oh that brings me to talk about his braveness for refusing the Army! He was the biggest thing that refuse the Army at that time, again he just bid everything that he has for what he believes is right. Oh, he indeed makes his licence fly away, his passport, his champion’s title! Gosh, if we want to see a man, Ali is a great example right. A man with a principle. So sad, we saw people with a lot of unnecessary principles nowadays.

Duh, i actually just want to write 800 words to not bored you, alas there is so much to talk about this movie. So, let me continue key! The other most favourite scene is……

If you watch the movie, you will weep on this. After restless moment against the goverment, after no boxing for years Ali has to go to Zaire (nowadays Congo, see even a country changes its name. This Ali story is so old it is should become a history!) to win his title against Michael Foreman (when you look at him, he was scarier than Ali and bigger as well!no body knew who will win!). Surprisingly, in Zaire Ali has welcomed so well that everybody keep shouting Bumaye Ali! Which is cheer for Ali to kill Foreman soon in Rumble in the Jungle (PS: greatest boxing ever before Thriller in Manila).

Well, within the song and the scene you really can feel a lot of emotion there. I think that’s the moment when Ali really belief in himself that he can win against Foreman, that’s the moment for Ali to realize he is really more than a boxer, what he is doing really have a great impact on people! So he has to keep fighting for it! And so does me, this scene inspire me to believe in myself more in low point of my life. To be as great as Ali, does not come easily. Passion is needed, so does perseverance. Tough and confidence are the items that we should have.

i catch sincerity there. i always catch one whenever i see him.

I never dream to be as great as Ali, but i believe one Muslim will be. Ali is fighting Parkinson for nearly three decades now, lets pray to Allah for the best of him.

Well, sun is rising now, i believe i write enough for what i remember the most about Ali the movie. You can dig a lot more about Ali from his interviews in Youtube, and those are fun to watch. I think B and I will watch HBO films: Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight , this one is from 2013 and from the journalist’s perspective. (After 50 years, people still makes another movie of him :O)

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